Multichamber dispenser

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a dispenser for flowable agents, comprising a main body ( 1 ) to which at least two stores can be secured for receiving said agents. The main body ( 1 ) has a first channel ( 16 ) and at least one second channel for releasing said agents out of the stores and is fitted with a first closing device ( 21 ) which can be actuated to sealingly close at least one of the channels. In order to enable said agents to be released out of the various stores, it is suggested that the main body ( 1 ) be provided with at least one additional closing device ( 22 ) desgined to selaingly close at least the second channel, independantly of the others.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention concerns a dispenser for flowable media with a main body,to which at least two stores can be attached to accommodate said media,where the main body has a first channel and at least one second channelto permit separate dispensing of the media from the stores, and isequipped with a first, manipulable closing device with which at leastone of the channels can be sealed tight.

A dispenser of this kind, preferably made of injection-moulded plastic,is available on the market as a so-called “double tube” and ismanufactured by Messrs. Yoschida, Japan. This dispenser has twoconcentric stores designed as tubes, the inner tube being positionedinside the outer tube. The outer tube has a substantially largerdiameter than the inner tube. The two tubes contain different flowablemedia, which are hereinafter referred to as “products”. Each of thetubes has its own outlet port, with which it can be attached to theseparate channels of the main body, which are designed as product ports.The main body has a cover plate, with which the product ports can bejointly sealed. The channels can be sealed by a cap.

Although this dispenser enables two different products to be stored in avery small space, it is only possible to dispense both products from thedispenser simultaneously. Separate dispensing of the two products isimpossible. Furthermore, the dispenser requires special bottles withspecially designed bottlenecks. As the bottlenecks are positioned nextto one another, they must be of particularly narrow design. In order tokeep the dispenser down to a reasonable size, the bottles must also bedesigned in such a way that they can be positioned very close to oneanother. Special bottles of this kind are relatively expensive.

Consequently, the object of the present invention is to further developa generic dispenser in such a way that each product can be dispensedseparately from the other products without resulting in mixing of theproducts.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, the object is solved in that the main bodyhas at least one additional closing device, with which one of thechannels can be sealed tight, independently of the other channels.

Based on the configuration of the dispenser according to the invention,two or more products can be stored completely separately in a smallspace and dispensed individually, without contaminating one anotherduring dispensing. For example, a daytime and night-time face cream,foundation and makeup remover or a shampoo and matching conditioner, canbe stored together but dispensed separately.

A dispenser with a first and second channel for dispensing two differentmedia preferably has a first closing device, where the first closingdevice is designed as a cover plate which can be connected to the mainbody in rotating fashion, and a second closing device. The secondclosing device likewise has a cover plate which can be connected to themain body or the first cover plate in rotating fashion.

In a particularly advantageous configuration of the dispenser accordingto the invention, the second channel is positioned at roughly 90 degreesto the first channel, and the axes of rotation of the cover plates areoffset in the same way as the channels.

In a dispenser according to the invention, in which a first and secondconnector are provided on the main body, to which the stores can beseparately attached, the stores and the connectors are positionedconcentrically and the first connector has a smaller diameter than thesecond connector, so that one of the stores is positioned inside theother. In this context, there is a space between the connectors, throughwhich one of the media can flow out of the store.

In a preferred configuration, the stores are tubes. The filling of thetubes is considerably simplified by the design according to theinvention. The open ends of the tubes which have not yet been welded,are screwed into the connectors, filled with the different products andthen welded together in a common welding step. The inner and outer tubesthen have a common welded seam. The connectors of the main body can beadapted to the diameters of the outlet ports of the tubes as required.Standard tubes can be used, meaning that the special tubes required bythe prior art can be dispensed with. This simplifies manufacturing,reduces inventory costs and simultaneously offers greater flexibility inthe manufacturing of different dispensers.

In a preferred configuration of the dispenser according to theinvention, at least one of the cover plates has U-shaped guide elements,which engage guide grooves provided on the main body. The guide elementsare mounted in the guide grooves in rotating fashion and guide the coverplate. This design ensures particularly stable mounting of the coverplate. Alternatively, mounting pins can be provided on the coverplate—preferably integrally moulded—which engage corresponding holesprovided in the main body which serve to accommodate the mounting pins.The respective design of the mounting method for the cover platesdepends on the nature of the application.

It is also possible for at least one of the cover plates to havemounting pins which can be connected in rotating fashion to supportsprovided on the main body or the other cover plate. Of course, all thecover plates can also be mounted on supports of this kind in rotatingfashion, so that the arrangement described previously, comprising guideelements and guide grooves, can be dispensed with.

In a dispenser according to the invention, which is preferably designedfor the use of stores designed as bottles, the bottles can be mountedparallel to one another on the main body using corresponding connectors.

In order to ensure the unequivocal assignment of the products to therespective cover plates, the cover plates can be designed in differentcolours. In this way, the danger of switching the products issubstantially reduced. Numerous other options for assignment would alsobe conceivable in this context.

An example of the invention is illustrated in the drawing and describedin detail based on the figures. The figures show the following:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 A cross-sectional side view of a first configuration of thedispenser,

FIG. 2 A cross-sectional front view of the dispenser in FIG. 1 in thedirection of Arrow II,

FIG. 3 A top view of the dispenser in FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 An enlarged view of Section IV in FIG. 1,

FIG. 5 The dispenser in FIG. 1 in the open position,

FIG. 6 The dispenser in FIG. 2 in the open position,

FIG. 7 A top view of an alternative design of the cover plates,

FIG. 8 A side view of an alternative configuration of the dispenseraccording to the invention, which is used for bottles mounted paralleland adjacent to one another on the dispenser,

FIG. 9 A top view of the dispenser in FIG. 8,

FIG. 10 A side view of the dispenser in FIG. 9 along Line X—X,

FIG. 11 An enlarged perspective view of a guide element and guide grooveprovided on the cover plates and the main body,

FIG. 12 A front view—partially cut away—of the guide element and theguide groove in FIG. 11, and

FIG. 13 A side view—partially cut away—of the guide element and theguide groove in FIG. 11.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

According to the drawing, the dispenser in a configuration designed fortubes, consists of a main body 1 and two stores 2 and 3 designed astubes, which are mounted on the bottom of the main body. Outer tube 2contains a first product and inner tube 3 contains a second product. Allparts of the dispenser are preferably made of injection-moulded plastic.

In the description, the terms “upwards” and “downwards” are based on theillustration of the dispenser in the figures. In the description of themain body, the term “downwards” refers to the direction facing towardsthe tubes, “upwards” refers to the direction facing away from the tubes,“outwards” refers to the direction facing away from centre axis 4 of thedispenser and “inwards” refers to the direction facing towards centreaxis 4.

FIGS. 1 to 7 show a dispenser in which the stores are designed asconcentric double tubes 2 and 3.

Main body 1 consists of an outer wall 5 essentially in the shape of ahollow cylinder, the inside of which has an integrally moulded baseplate 6 roughly in the middle which extends radially inwards. Base plate6 has an essentially cylindrical recess 7 roughly in the centre andextending downwards, which has an essentially vertical wall 8 and a basewall 9 running essentially parallel to base plate 6.

A first connector 10 is integrally moulded on the bottom of base wall 9.The inside of this first connector 10 has a female thread into which afirst tube neck 11 is screwed, the tube neck 11 having a male threadcorresponding to the female thread of first connector 10. Inner tube 3is mounted such that base wall 9 is in tight contact with the rim offirst tube neck 11. In order to increase the effect of the seal, a ringseal 12 is integrally moulded on the bottom of base wall 9.

A second connector 13 is integrally moulded on the bottom of base plate6 such that it is concentric to first tube neck 11. Second connector 13has a larger diameter than first tube neck 11. Outer tube 2 is alsoconnected to main body 1 via a female thread which is integrally mouldedon the inside of second connector 13 and engaged by a second tube neck14 provided on outer tube 2 and having a male thread corresponding tothe female thread. In order to increase the effect of the seal in thiscase, a ring seal 15 is again integrally moulded on the bottom of baseplate 6.

At least one region of recess 7 is designed in such a way that a channel16 is formed between the outside of vertical wall 8 and the inside ofsecond tube neck 14.

A cylindrical first product port 17 is integrally moulded on the top ofbase plate 6. First product port 17 has a base plate hole 18 on itsbottom end bordered by base plate 6. After flowing through channel 16,the product contained in outer tube 2 can flow through this base platehole 18 into first product port 17.

As is shown particularly clearly in FIG. 2, main body 1 also has asecond, likewise cylindrical, product port 19, which is integrallymoulded on the top of base plate 6 and base wall 9. Second product port19 is positioned roughly at right angles to first product port 17. Basewall 9 has a base wall hole 20 inside second product port 19, throughwhich the product contained in inner tube 3 can pass out of the tubeopening and into second product port 19.

The dispenser is closed by two cover plates 21 and 22 mounted on mainbody 1 in rotating fashion. First cover plate 21 is designed in such away that it tightly seals first product port 17, whereas second coverplate 22 is designed in such a way that it tightly seals second productport 19. For this purpose, the bottom of first cover plate 21 has anintegrally moulded sealing lip 23, whose outside diameter is slightlysmaller than the inside diameter of first product port 17 in the regionbordering on first cover plate 21. In the closed position, sealing lip23 tightly engages first product port 17. Second cover plate 22 isdesigned with a similar sealing lip 24, which tightly engages secondproduct port 19 in the closed position.

As is shown particularly clearly in FIG. 3, cover plates 21 and 22 areoffset by 90 degrees in rotating fashion on main body 1. Together, coverplates 21 and 22 form the geometrical shape of a circle. First coverplate 21 has a recess 21 a roughly in the middle, which is designed toaccommodate second cover plate 22. Thus, second cover plate 22 isinserted in first cover plate 21 such that they are flush on top. Thegeometrical design of cover plates 21 and 22 is variable. In the topview shown in FIG. 3, the conical design of cover plates 21 and 22,which taper to narrow sections 21 b and 22 b towards the centre,represents an advantageous configuration. The shape of the two coverplates 21 and 22 need not result in a circle, but rather can also formother shapes, such as a rectangle or triangle.

Both cover plates 21 and 22 are mounted in rotating fashion. For thispurpose, first cover plate 21 has two U-shaped, semi-circular guideelements 25 and 26, which engage two guide grooves 27 and 28 integrallymoulded on main body 1. Guide elements 25 and 26 are guided in slidingfashion in guide grooves 27 and 28.

Second cover plate 22 is mounted in rotating fashion on two supports 29and 30 integrally moulded on the top of base wall 9 by way of two pins31 and 32 integrally moulded on second cover plate 22. Pins 31 and 32snap into corresponding recesses 33 and 34 on the upper ends of supports29 and 30 and are thus mounted in rotating fashion therein.

The first cover plate has two openings 35 and 36, which enable supports29 and 30, when assembled, to pass through first cover plate 21, inorder to accommodate pins 31 and 32. Second cover plate 22 also has ahole 59, through which second product port 19 passes.

FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional enlargement of the mounting of pins 31and 32 of second cover plate 22 in supports 29 and 30 of main body 1. Inthe configuration illustrated here, second cover plate 22 is mounted insupports 29 and 30, which are integrally moulded on base wall 9.However, it is also possible to integrally mould supports 29 and 30, orother similar mounting elements, directly on first cover plate 21.Second cover plate 22 is then directly mounted in rotating fashion infirst cover plate 21. This simplifies the design and recesses 33 and 34need not be provided.

FIG. 5 shows the dispenser when first cover plate 21 is depressed. Byexerting a force on recess 37 integrally moulded in first cover plate21, guide elements 25 and 26 are rotated in guide grooves 27 and 28about their centre point of rotation 38. The side of first cover plate21 on which the force is exerted is lowered, while the side of the coverplate opposite point of rotation 38 is raised, so that the upper edge offirst cover plate 21 rises above the upper edge of outer wall 5 of mainbody 1. In this position, the first medium can flow out of outer tube 2,through channel 16 and base plate hole 18 into first product port 17,through first outlet aperture 39 of first cover plate 21 and out of thedispenser. During this process, second cover plate 22 remains sealed.Openings 35 and 36 and hole 59 in first cover plate 21 ensure that themotion of first cover plate 21 is not hindered in any way by secondcover plate 22.

FIG. 6 shows the dispenser when second cover plate 22 is depressed. Byexerting a force on recess 40 integrally moulded in second cover plate22, the second cover plate is rotated about the point of rotation in theaxis of pins 31 and 32. The side of second cover plate 22 on which theforce is exerted is lowered, while the side of the cover plate oppositethe point of rotation is raised, so that the upper edge of second coverplate 22 rises above the upper edge of outer wall 5 of main body 1. Inthis position, the second medium can flow out of inner tube 3, throughbase wall hole 20 into second product port 19, through second outletaperture 41 of second cover plate 22 and out of the dispenser. Duringthis process, first cover plate 21 remains sealed.

The bottom of second cover plate 22 has a recess 22 c on the sideintended to be pressed down, which makes it possible to lower secondcover plate 22 relative to first cover plate 21. During depression, theedge of recess 22 c comes to rest on first cover plate 21. FIG. 7 showsan alternative geometric design for cover plates 42 and 43. Theessentially round first cover plate 42 has a strip-shaped recess 42 a inthe middle which is designed to accommodate second cover plate 43.Strip-shaped second cover plate 43 lies inside it, so that the coverplates are flush on top. The closing of the two product ports and thepivotable mounting of cover plates 42 and 43 on main body 44 are thesame as in the configuration shown in FIGS. 1 to 6.

FIGS. 8 to 10 show another configuration of the dispenser according tothe invention, which is designed to be used on two parallel, adjacentstores designed as bottles 45 and 46, which are filled with differentproducts.

Main body 47 is connected to bottles 45 and 46 by way of tabs 49 and 50integrally moulded on the bottom of base plate 48, which snap overcorresponding collars 51 and 52 provided on the bottlenecks.

Cover plates 53 and 54—seen in a top view in FIG. 9—are each designed inthe shape of a semi-circle and, when assembled, form a full circle.Roughly in the middle of the downward-pointing edges on the side,saucer-shaped (in the cross-section) cover plates 53 and 54 haveintegrally moulded pins 55 and 56, which engage corresponding recessesprovided on main body 57 and, in this way, are mounted in rotatingfashion in main body 57.

As is shown particularly clearly in the cross-section in FIG. 10, theproduct ports (of which only product port 58 is shown in the figure) areoffset laterally from the centre axes of bottles 45 and 46, which runthrough the points of rotation of pins 55 and 56. When pressure isapplied to cover plates 53 and 54, the product ports open due to thetilting motion of cover plates 53 and 54, so that the products can thenflow through the open outlet apertures (of which only outlet aperture 58is shown) and out of the dispenser.

The structural design of guide element 25 and guide groove 27 isillustrated in an enlarged detail view in FIGS. 11 to 13. As can be seenhere, curved guide element 25, which is integrally moulded on firstcover plate 21, engages corresponding U-shaped guide groove 27. Theguide groove runs between a Z-shaped end 60 of base plate 6, where tophaunch 60 a is provided with a concave section, which corresponds to thecurve of guide element 25, and an L-shaped end, whose bottom haunch 60 bhas a recess which also corresponds to the curve of guide element 25.Thus, guide groove 27 is formed between haunch 60 a and haunch 60 b.Guide element 25 can be snapped into guide groove 27.

In another configuration of the dispenser (not shown in the figures)without supports or guide elements and grooves, the edges of the coverplates are of convex design. These outwardly curved edges rest incorresponding concave recesses provided on the main body or the othercover plates, and are thus mounted in rotating fashion therein.

The configurations described above all referred to dispensers for twodifferent products. The scope of the invention also includes designingdispensers for more than two products. For example, three parallel,adjacent bottles mounted on the main body can be closed by threestrip-shaped, adjacent cover plates mounted on the main body in rotatingfashion.

Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been specificallyillustrated and described herein, it is to be understood that minorvariations may be made in the apparatus without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention, as defined the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A dispenser for flowable media comprising atleast first and second stores adapted to accommodate respective firstand second flowable media, first and second openings for conductingfirst and second media from the respective first and second stores, amain body, means for attaching the first and second stores to the mainbody, said main body including first and second channels for conductingthe respective first and second media from said first and secondopenings to respective first and second dispensing ports of said mainbody, first and second closures carried by said main body forselectively permitting and preventing dispensing of the respective firstand second media from the respective first and second dispensing ports,means for effecting pivotal movement of said first and second closuresrelative to said main body for pivoting between dispensing andnon-dispensing positions, said first and second dispensing ports beingoffset from each other along an arc of substantially 90°, and saidpivotal movement effecting means being disposed substantially normal toeach other.
 2. The dispenser as defined in claim 1 wherein said pivotalmovement effecting means includes first pivot means for effectingpivotal movement of said first closure relative to said main body andsecond pivot means for effecting pivotal movement of said second closurerelative to said main body.
 3. The dispenser as defined in claim 2wherein said pivotal movement effecting means effects pivotal movementof a portion of said second closure substantially within a portion ofsaid first closure.
 4. The dispenser as defined in claim 1 wherein saidpivotal movement effecting means effects pivotal movement of a portionof said second closure substantially within a portion of said firstclosure.
 5. The dispenser as defined in claim 1 wherein said pivotalmovement effecting means includes first pivot means for effectingpivotal movement of said first closure relative to said main body; andsaid first pivot means include at least one curved guide element of oneof said first closure and main body in pivotal relationship to at leastone curved guide groove of another of said first closure and main body.6. The dispenser as defined in claim 5 wherein said pivotal movementeffecting means effects pivotal movement of a portion of said secondclosure substantially within a portion of said first closure.
 7. Thedispenser as defined in claim 5 wherein said pivotal movement effectingmeans includes second pivot means for effecting pivotal movement of saidsecond closure relative to said main body; and said second pivot meansinclude at least one pivot pin of one of said second closure and mainbody in pivotal relationship to at least one pivot bearing surface ofanother of said second closure and main body.
 8. The dispenser asdefined in claim 7 wherein said pivotal movement effecting means effectspivotal movement of a portion of said second closure substantiallywithin a portion of said first closure.
 9. The dispenser as defined inclaim 1 wherein said pivotal movement effecting means includes secondpivot means for effecting pivotal movement of said second closurerelative to said main body; and said second pivot means include at leastone pivot pin of one of said second closure and main body in pivotalrelationship to at least one pivot bearing surface of another of saidsecond closure and main body.
 10. The dispenser as defined in claim 1wherein said pivotal movement effecting means effects pivotal movementof a portion of said second closure substantially within a portion ofsaid first closure, and said first closure portion is a recess housingsaid second closure portion.
 11. A dispenser for flowable mediacomprising at least first and second stores adapted to accommodaterespective first and second flowable media, first and second openingsfor conducting first and second media from the respective first andsecond stores, a main body, means for attaching the first and secondstores to the main body, said main body including first and secondchannels for conducting the respective first and second media from saidfirst and second openings to respective first and second dispensingports of said main body, first and second closures carried by said mainbody for selectively permitting and preventing dispensing of therespective first and second media from the respective first and seconddispensing ports, means for effecting pivotal movement of said first andsecond closures relative to said main body for pivoting betweendispensing and non-dispensing positions, and said pivotal movementeffecting means are defined by first and second pivot means between saidrespective first and second closures.
 12. The dispenser as defined inclaim 11 wherein said first and second pivot means include at least onecurved guide element of one of said first and second closures in pivotalrelationship to at least one curved guide groove of another of saidfirst and second closures.
 13. The dispenser as defined in claim 12wherein said at least one curved guide groove is formed in a recessedportion of said second closure and said at least one curved guideelement is formed in a projecting portion of said first closure housedin said second closure recessed portion.
 14. The dispenser as defined inclaim 13 including pivot means between said first closure and said mainbody for effecting relative pivoting movement therebetween.
 15. Thedispenser as defined in claim 14 wherein said last-mentioned pivot meansincludes a pair off upstanding posts carried by said main body to whichare pivoted pivot pins of said second closures.
 16. A dispenser forflowable media comprising at least first and second stores adapted toaccommodate respective first and second flowable media, first and secondopenings for conducting first and second media from the respective firstand second stores, a main body, means for attaching the first and secondstores to the main body, said main body including first and secondchannels for conducting the respective first and second media from saidfirst and second openings to respective first and second dispensingports of said main body, first and second closures carried by said mainbody for selectively permitting and preventing dispensing of therespective first and second media from the respective first and seconddispensing ports, means for effecting pivotal movement of said first andsecond closures relative to said main body for pivoting betweendispensing and non-dispensing positions, and at least one of said firstand second channels being located between said first and second storesattaching means.
 17. The dispenser as defined in claim 16 wherein saidfirst channel is located between said first and second stores attachingmeans.
 18. A dispenser for flowable media comprising at least first andsecond side-by-side stores adapted to accommodate respective first andsecond flowable media, first and second side-by-side openings forconducting first and second media from the respective first and secondstores, a main body, means for attaching the first and second stores tothe main body, said main body including first and second channels forconducting the respective first and second media from said first andsecond openings to respective first and second dispensing ports of saidmain body, first and second closures carried by said main body forselectively permitting and preventing dispensing of the respective firstand second media from the respective first and second dispensing ports,means for effecting pivotal movement of said first and second closuresrelative to said main body for pivoting between open dispensing andclosed non-dispensing positions relative to the respective first andsecond dispensing ports, said pivotal movement effecting means include adownwardly projecting portion of each first and second closure carryinga curved guide element for effecting, and a curved guide groove of saidmain body receiving therein an associated one of said curved guideelements for effecting said pivoting movement.
 19. The dispenser asdefined in claim 18 wherein said curved guide grooves and curved guideelements define a common pivoting axis for said first and secondclosures.